Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Submitted by zen on 4 October, 2005 - 23:56.
Sock's Choice Review | Some Book Reviews
| Haruki Murakami: Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World |
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| Author | Haruki Murakami | | Made | Vintage | | Date | 2001-09-28 | | Media | Paperback | | Catalog | Book | | Sales Rank | 647274 | | Availability | Usually ships in 2 to 5 weeks | | List Price | US$14.73 | | Our Price* | US$12.08 |
*Price subject to change |  |
I have read all of Haruki's books and so far I think this is a pretty good one. It's quite unlike most of his other books which was close to reality but not quite real, this books is simply unreal.
The thing about his books is to make you think, make you wonder. What could the "shadow" means? What does it mean to lose "the shadow"? In his most recent book, "Kafka on the Shore", Haruki had repeatedly mention about having no shadow. Hmmm... I'm not sure what it's but it sure isn't a nice thing to lose.
It is a very sad story. Sad in an unrealistic way. Sad yet still satisfying... |
Reviews:| Rating 4.5/5 from 108 reviews | | Past? Future? What IS "real" life, anyway? | | Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2006-06-28 | The novel is written in alternating chapters. The main line concerns a data-cruncher loner who gets caught in the info-war between the legitimate Calcutecs and the renegade Semiotecs. The alternate line happens in a mythical walled city called the Town.
Both story lines are narrated in the first person, though the modern-day "hard-boiled" story is told in the past tense, and the Town story is in the present tense. They increasingly appear to be the same narrator, and one wonders if the Town story is in the past or the future. I read the final 40 pages at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco by candle light while waiting for Neko Case to come on stage, a good way to finish the intense journey. The final chapters are poignant and very affecting as the two story lines converge.
This was only my second Murakami book (after "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle"). Murakami does not disappoint in his Zenlike fictionalizations of life, death, love, and the meaning of existence, and he has imagination to spare. No wonder he is one of the world's top novelists.
P.S. To understand the origin of the INKlings, look up "kappa" from the Shinto religion. They are water spirits, usually menacing, who drown people and eat the liquified leftovers. | | amazing | | Rating: 5/5 2006-06-15 | | This was the first novel I read by Murakami, and when I read it, I absolutely adored it and couldn't put it down. Since then, I have read "South of the Border, West of the Sun," and "Dance, Dance, Dance," and I don't think either of them can really compare to Hard-Boiled. | | I AM Not Sure if Mr. Murakami Can Top This One | | Rating: 5/5 2006-06-10 | | This was the second novel I read by Haruki Murakami. The first was Wild Sheep Chase which is a great book in itself. But Hard Boiled Wonderland sucks you in and doesn't let go. With all of the Ring type movies coming out, I would love to see this book made into a movie. And I think David Lynch would be the director who could pull it off. If you are a Murakami fan check out the Elephant Vanishes a collection of short stories. Great book. Another great Japanese writer with the sam last name, but no relation as far as I know is Ryu Murakami; Coin Locker Babies is a great read by Ryu. | | This Is Your Brain On Murakami | | Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2006-04-30 | I picked up KAFKA ON THE SHORE on a whim, and was very surprised and taken in by the story. Unpredictable and surreal, with quite creepy moments.
This is my second book by Murakami, and this one was even better.
It might not be the easiest thing to get into.
Do not expect to grasp the meaning of the book immediately, just go with the flow.
We are given two story lines,
Hard-Boiled Wonderland is sort of a cyberpunk sci fi story, while The End Of The World is a slow and dark Twillight Zone type tale in a Tolkien-ish mythological setting.
And little by little you realize you are reading a very original, entertaining and poetic treaty on the workings of the brain. | | Wow! | | Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 2 think this is helpful) 2006-03-08 | | My first Murakami and I am completely bowled over. I could not put this book down, it is so good. |
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